Alpine Touring Gear

Featured review by FromSagetoSnow

Lighter, faster, and easier to use than other poles, yet worries about durability linger. Despite the worries, I really like these poles.

Summary: From Black Diamond: "The aluminum compactor pole adjusts between popular pole lengths and uses an internal Kevlar cord to instantly break down to packable size and redeploys in a flash. One, rock solid, point of adjustment means you can keep moving instead of being the one always fiddling with your poles." I trek on my ski poles. Or maybe I should say that I ski on my trekking poles. Either way I use them all for both. I don't want to have a ton of single-purpose gear so these appealed to me as a possible do-it-all pole.

Read more: Black Diamond Compactor Ski Poles reviews (4)

Featured review by Peter1955

Light, tough, and cheap.

I find it a bit amusing that after many years, the traditional leaders in hiking poles, Leki and Komperdell, are finally coming out with locking systems for their poles based on the Black Diamond Flicklock system. We've all heard stories about the old twist-lock poles collapsing at the wrong moment, dumping someone in a puddle or causing a fall, and it's good to see other companies following BD's lead. I've had my latest pair of Black Diamond Expedition poles for about three or four years, and they're still going strong.

Read more: Black Diamond Expedition 3 reviews (3)

Reviewed by Skygenie

The Whippet will give you added security in places where falling will have dire consequences. You have to know how to self-arrest for it to be useful. I recommend it for anyone that has ever wished they had, or actually had, an ice axe in their hand while skiing.

I started skiing with a Whippet two seasons ago and I really like it. I don't have crampons for my skis so this gives me a nice sense of security when skiing on hard snow. I've had a few unexpected falls/slides where I couldn't stop if I wanted to but each time there were no bad consequences. When skiing above cliffs or other hazards you don't want to fall into, the Whippet could make the difference between a good day and a bad day. Having a pick as part of your pole is far superior to trying to carry an ice axe with a pole or stowing the pole and just using the ice axe.

Read more: Black Diamond Whippet review (1)

Reviewed by FromSagetoSnow

Light-ish frame style tour binding for the rest of us.

My first tour bindings. I ski 80% in bounds so solid downhill performance is important to me and I also need to watch my weight because I also go on dawn patrol and up mountains on occasion. I had heard that these rattle, but saw none of that.  Marker makes several frame-style tour bindings and I was not ready to shell out the coin for bindings that release at 12 and weigh more than the skis they are attached to. Plus I don't need that much burliness since I am just a moderate (blue/black) skier.

Read more: Marker F10 Tour review (1)

Reviewed by Jim51111

Reliable, dependable, and well constructed skins that climb exceptionally well. I highly recommend them to anyone who backcountry skis.

Black Diamond Ascension STS skins are a staple up here in Northern New Hampshire. The tip and tail attachments are universal and will fit securely to any type of ski. Over the years I have used my set I have never worried about the skins detaching from the skis. The glue holds up well against the variable conditions I see which includes not only different snow conditions but also sticks, pine needles, and leaves. I truly appreciate that I have yet to have glue failure. While climbing these skins are able to tackle any angle the skier is will to attempt.

Read more: Black Diamond Ascension Nylon Climbing Skins review (1)

Featured review by Angus D

Great overall binding. Good range of DIN, price to performance, light-ish for an alpine binding, and looks good. Suffers from an imprecise feel, and creaking with soft snow wedged in the binding.

I mounted my 2018 pair on a set of K2 Marksmen, to use in various B.C. resorts. I used them for three seasons, before buying a new pair of 2021's to mount on some Blizzard Rustler 11's. Both times I've used a pair of Lange RS 130 with them, in 29.5. I've skied 200 days total, doing everything in the resort, from terrain park to slack country hiking. They've held up to the abuse really well, with little wear and no failures. The main downside is when you start to ski through binding and boot deep powder.

Read more: Marker Griffon 13 reviews (3)

Reviewed by Alec MacAdam

Looking for a lightweight, flexible AT boot which I can fit a wide foot into following some foot surgery. Very accommodating thermal fitting options, including a mold-able outer shell

I had to sit out last year's season here in Colorado due to extended recovery following bone spur removal surgery. Nevertheless, I'm back in the saddle so to speak and am looking to expand into the AT realm. Following doing a fair bit of boot research and getting good advice from a Scarpa rep I spoke with I chose the Scarpa F1 becuse of its variability in the fittment options, and its lightweight materials. While I understand its a pin-style boot only, I'm amenable with that from a weight perspective. Overall looking forward to many happy runs in these sweet boots!

Read more: Scarpa F1 review (1)

Reviewed by Mvallee81

Very good lightweight touring boot. Comfortable for wide feet.

I have the first version (white and grey) of these boots. Very comfortable, suitable for people with wide feet. The heel stays tightly in place. Warm too, and I love the Boa attachment system for the liners. Good performance when skinning, sufficient articulation, although there is pressure on the shins, due to the plastic overlapping at the front. I prefer boots with a tongue like the Dynafit Zzero, because you can loosen it to gain space when skinning. The BD Prime don't have that. Works well with Dynafit bindings Solid Vibram outer sole.

Read more: Black Diamond Prime review (1)

Reviewed by Badass Outdoors

This vest is my favorite new accessory for the resort and the side country. I recommend it for skinning up the resort trails or mellow, low risk, side country excursions.

I am a six foot, 185 pound skiing male with broad shoulders and a 34 X 32 pant size. I ski 100 days a year between resort, backcountry, and Nordic. I picked up the Scotty Comp Vest to try to solve the backpack problem... let me explain:   Flylow Scotty Comp Vest My routine on Tuesdays and Thursdays is to get to my local mountain early in the AM. I step into my touring skis and head up the trail. For the longest time I wore a traditional +/-30 Liter pack containing water, layers, my helmet, etc.

Read more: Flylow Scotty Comp Vest review (1)

Reviewed by Jim51111

Go anywhere, do anything ski comfortable in the backcountry as well as on the groomers. A one quiver ski that is capable of taking you anywhere within your ability level.

The Black Diamond Convert skis are the Jeep of touring skis. They are comfortable anywhere in any conditions. I have ridden them on fresh powder, breakable crust, icy New England resort trails, and freshly groomed corduroy runs and enjoyed every turn. Front Country Their performance in the front country, on groomed resort trails, is adequate but you need to be a confident skier to feel comfortable taking these down steep high speed runs. The rocker tip and tail, which are helpful in the powder, cause the ski to chatter on hard packed snow and decrease turning and stopping abilities.

Read more: Black Diamond Convert Ski review (1)